HSDPA CQI, ACK, NACK power offset known in node B in SRNC

ABSTRACT

High speed data packet access (HSDPA) is facilitated by ensuring that power offsets are delivered to the base station (Node B) so that the new functions envisioned therefor having to do with scheduling and retransmission handling can be carried out effectively. A signal primitive having one or more information elements indicative of corresponding power offsets are received by the Node B, saved for future use and then signalled back to the serving radio network controller so that the user equipment can be informed with a proper RRC message containing the appropriate power offsets.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/434,413 filed May 8, 2003 from which priority is claimed under 35 USC§119 to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/379,917 filed May 9,2002

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As an enhancement to the release99/release4 (rel99/rel4) downlink sharedchannel (DSCH) concept in the third generation partnership project(3GPP) shown in FIG. 1(a) it has been agreed to add a so-called HighSpeed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) concept as a part of the 3GPP rel5universal terrestrial radio access network (UTRAN) architecture as shownin FIG. 1(b). In FIG. 1(a) the DSCH is transmitted on a downlinkPhysical Downlink Shared CHannel (PDSCH) 10. In principle, the new HSDPAconcept of FIG. 1(b) is an enhancement, because the leading idea in 3GPPhas been to make HSDPA as an evolution from the shared channel conceptnot as a revolution. Therefore the defined solutions should resemble asmuch as possible the solutions which have already been defined for theshared channels. The basic idea behind the HSDPA is to offer a sharedhigh speed channel with a higher data rate and a quick retransmissionmechanism (i.e. with HARQ (=Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request)) from NodeB. As can be seen by comparing FIG. 1(b) to FIG. 1(a), the Node B isgiven more intelligence for the purpose of handling retransmissions andscheduling functions, thus reducing the round trip delay between themobile device and the RNC formerly handling retransmissions in FIG.1(a). This makes retransmission combining feasible in the mobile device.In place of the variable spreading factor and fast power control usedfor the DSCH of FIG. 1(a), the HS-DSCH of FIG. 1(b) uses adaptivemodulation and coding (AMC) in addition to the HARQ. A much smallertransmission time interval (TTI) of two milliseconds is also usedinstead of the 10 or 20 milliseconds of the DSCH. Also, the media accesscontrol (MAC) is located in the node B instead of the RNC. The AMC partof HSDPA utilizes adaptation of code rate, the modulation scheme, thenumber of multi-codes employed, as well as the transmit power per code.Even though many parameters are defined in the Radio Network SubsystemApplication Part (RNSAP; see 3GPP TS25.423 v5.0.0) and Node BApplication Part (NBAP; see 3GPP TS25.433 v5.0.0) to support HSDPA, theHSDPA discussion is on-going in 3GPP and many useful parameters arebeing added.

The user equipment is able to send a channel quality indicator (CQI) onthe uplink HS-DPCCH (high speed dedicated physical control channel). Itindicates the selected transport format resource combination (TFRC) andmulti-code number currently supported by the UE.

FIG. 2 shows a radio protocol architecture for HSDPA taken from Figure5.1-1 of 3GPP TS 25.308 v5.2.0 (March 2002). According to thatspecification, the new functionalities of hybrid ARQ and HSDPAscheduling are included in the MAC layer. In the UTRAN these functionsare included in a new entity called MAC-hs located as shown in the NodeB in FIG. 2. The transport channel that the HSDPA functionality will useis called HS-DSCH (High Speed Downlink Shared Channel) and is controlledby the MAC-hs. The MAC protocol configuration shown is one of twopossible configurations on the UTRAN side presented in theaforementioned specification. The illustrated configuration is providedwith MAC-c/sh. In this case, the MAC-hs in Node B is located belowMAC-c/sh in the RNC. MAC-c/sh provides functions to HSDPA alreadyincluded for DSCH in the Release '99. The HS-DSCH FP (frame protocol)will handle the data transport from SRNC to CRNC (if the lur interfaceis involved) and between CRNC and the Node B. Another configurationwithout MAC-c/sh is possible. In that case (see Figure 5.1-2 of theaforementioned specification, the CRNC does not have any user planefunction for the HS-DSCH. MAC-d in SRNC is located directly above MAC-hsin Node B, i.e. in the HS-DSCH user plane the SRNC is directly connectedto the Node B, thus bypassing the CRNC. Both configurations aretransparent to both the UE and Node B. FIG. 2 hereof shows therespective radio interface protocol architecture with terminationpoints. The same architecture supports both FDD and TDD modes ofoperation, though some details of the associated signalling for HS-DSCHare different.

FIG. 3 (see Figure 6.2.2-1 of 3GPP TS 25.308 v5.2.0) shows UTRAN sideMAC architecture/MAC-c/sh details. The data for the HS-DSCH is subjectto flow control between the serving and the drift RNC. A new flowcontrol function is included to support the data transfer between MAC-dand MAC-hs.

FIG. 4 shows UTRAN side MAC architecture/MAC-hs details (see Figure6.2.3-1 of 3GPP TS 25.308 v5.2.0). According to section 6.2.3 of theaforementioned specification, the MAC-hs is responsible for handling thedata transmitted on the HS-DSCH. Furthermore it is its responsibility tomanage the physical resources allocated to HSDPA. MAC-hs receivesconfiguration parameters from the RRC layer via the MAC-Control SAP.There shall be priority handling per MAC-d PDU in the MAC-hs. The MAC-hsis comprised of four different functional entities:

Flow Control:

This is the companion flow control function to the flow control functionin the MAC-c/sh in case of Configuration with MAC-c/sh and MAC-d in caseof Configuration without MAC-c/sh. Both entities together provide acontrolled data flow between the MAC-c/sh and the MAC-hs (Configurationwith MAC-c/sh) or the MAC-d and MAC-hs (Configuration without MAC-c/sh)taking the transmission capabilities of the air interface into accountin a dynamic manner. This function is intended to limit layer 2signalling latency and reduce discarded and retransmitted data as aresult of HS-DSCH congestion. Flow control is provided independently bypriority class for each MAC-d flow.

Scheduling/Priority Handling:

This function manages HS-DSCH resources between HARQ entities and dataflows according to their priority class. Based on status reports fromassociated uplink signalling either new transmission or retransmissionis determined. Further it sets the priority class identifier and TSN foreach new data block being serviced. To maintain proper transmissionpriority a new transmission can be initiated on a HARQ process at anytime. The TSN is unique to each priority class within a HS-DSCH, and isincremented for each new data block. It is not permitted to schedule newtransmissions, including retransmissions originating in the RLC layer,within the same TTI, along with retransmissions originating from theHARQ layer.

HARQ:

One HARQ entity handles the hybrid ARQ functionality for one user. OneHARQ entity is capable of supporting multiple instances (HARQ process)of stop and wait HARQ protocols. There shall be one HARQ process perTTI.

TFC Selection:

Selection of an appropriate transport format and resource combinationfor the data to be transmitted on HS-DSCH.

FIG. 1(c) shows further details of the proposed UTRAN side overall MACarchitecture including the new MAC-hs. MAC-hs provides the essentialfunctionalities to support HSDPA. MAC-hs has the scheduling function aswell as HARQ.

Currently in 3GPP, the SRNC is supposed to send the CQI Power Offset,ACK Power Offset and NACK Power Offset to the UE via RRC layer messages.The Power Offsets will be defined as relative to the DPCCH pilot bit.Then the UE will use these Power Offsets as follows:

When an uplink HS-DPCCH is active, the relative power offsetΔ_(HS-DPCCH) between the DPCCH and the HS-DPCCH for each HS-DPCCH slotshall be set as follows:

For HS-DPCCH Slots Carrying HARQ Acknowledgement:

-   Δ_(HS-DPCCH)=Δ_(ACK) if the corresponding HARQ Acknowledgement is    equal to 1-   Δ_(HS-DPCCH)=Δ_(NACK) if the corresponding HARQ Acknowledgement is    equal to 0    For HS-DPCCH Slots Carrying CQI:-   Δ_(HS-DPCCH)=Δ_(CQI)    The values for Δ_(ACK), Δ_(NACK) and Δ_(CQI) are set by higher    layers (RRC message). The quantization of the power offset can be    found in 3GPP TS 25.213 at Table 1A for instance.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

But in the current 3GPP specification, there is no means to deliverthese Power Offsets to Node B. Referring to FIGS. 1(c) and FIG. 2, theprior art Node B of FIG. 1(a) did not have the MAC-hs or complementaryHS-DSCH FP layers. If Node B were to know the CQI Power offset, which isan object of the present invention, the Node B receiver could utilizethis value for scaling the CQI signal. Scaling the CQI signal is relatedto the signal level setting, and is used typically in a digital baseband implementation, to avoid overflow (i.e. signalling saturation) orunderflow (i.e. quantization noise). In ASIC and DSP SW implementations,word length constraints are applied and signals must be scaledaccordingly to match with the processing word lengths. If the poweroffsets for multiple signals are not known by the Node B, as is the casenow, signal levels would have to be detected or alternatively in a worstcase the Node B receiver would have to be made available for a possiblemaximum range of each signal. Especially in this case, both fading onthe radio path and adaptation POs extend the required range. Signalingto Node B removes the later proportion for the required range.Therefore, if Node B knows the CQI Power Offset then it simplifiesreceiver implementation (i.e. when measuring DPCCH power level, CQIpower level can be calculated and Node B can adjust gains in thedifferent parts of receiver in a simple manner).

If Node B knows the ACK Power Offset and the NACK Power Offset, Node Bcan utilize these values to detect the ACK/NACK signal. For the ACK andNACK detection, the Node B receiver must also detect the 3^(rd) state,DTX (no signal). This requires setting signal detection thresholds. Thisdetection will be more accurate when it is set based on signaled POsthan when it is set based on measured offsets.

Since ACK/NACK is a level based detection, if Node B already knows thePOs of ACK/NACK, it can detect the signal easily.

If Node B knows the CQI Power Offset it can calculate the CQI power withDPCCH power, Node B doesn't need to measure the offset individually. Itcan make Node B receiver implementation easier.

If Power Offsets are not given by signalling, Node B is required tomeasure these Power Offsets individually. This is similar with betaparameters, which are given for DPCCH and for DPDCH, to indicate poweroffset between those two dedicated physical channels. Of course, inthese schemes, the Node B receiver must still detect the DPCCH level,which is the reference for all the Power Offsets, but it doesn't need todetect other signal levels (CQI's, ACKs & NACKs) individually for allmultiple signals and this reduces Node B work significantly.

Furthermore it is anticipated that giving Power Offsets to the Node Bwill make the standard further future-proof when supporting someinterference cancelling methods.

Currently, no description can be found from 3GPP specifications ortechnical reports about this problem and how to solve it. Therefore,there is no prior art recognition of the problem and consequently nosolution either. Without knowing the CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offsetand NACK Power Offset, the Node B receiver has to search the signal forwhole possible ranges.

This invention introduces CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACKPower Offset on RNSAP and NBAP signalling or HS-DSCH FP.

Since the object is for both the UE and Node B to know the same values,there are two possibilities during the RL setup phase:

-   (1) SRNC decides the Power Offsets and includes them in the RL SETUP    REQUEST message. SRNC also sends the same information to the UE with    a proper RRC message.-   (2) Node B decides the Power Offsets and includes them in the RL    SETUP RESPONSE message. And the SRNC sends the same Power Offsets to    the UE with the proper RRC message.    And, there are 3 possibilities to change the POs.-   1) SRNC decides to change the Power Offsets and include them in the    RL RECONFIGURATION PREPARE message. SRNC also sends the same    information to UE with proper RRC message.-   2) SRNC decides to change the Power Offsets and include them in the    RADIO INTERFACE PARAMETER UPDATE control frame (It should be noted    that the name of the control frame can be different than that). SRNC    also sends the same information to UE with proper RRC message.-   3) Node B decides to change the Power Offsets. In this case there is    no existing mechanism for Node B to initiate changing the Power    Offsets during the connection and there may be a need to define a    new procedure. Alternatively, it could be done in such a way that    the SRNC initiates Power Offsets change procedure (e.g. SHO case) by    sending an RL RECONFIGURATION PREPARE message with HO indication.    Then Node B decides new Power Offsets and sends them back in an RL    RECONFIGURATION READY message. SRNC also sends the same information    to UE with proper RRC message. The RL RECONFIGURATION PREPARE and RL    RECONFIGURATION message formats already exist and can be adapted to    the purposes of the invention.

Once Node B has the CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACK PowerOffset, it will apply CQI Power Offset for CQI slot scaling and ACKPower Offset and NACK Power Offset for ACK and NACK slot detection.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent in light of the following detaileddescription of a best mode embodiment thereof, as illustrated in theaccompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: UTRAN side overall MAC architecture showing the defined HSDPAnetwork architecture in 3GPP. The figure shows a new MAC-hs entity,which is connected, to the MAC-c/sh through lub-interface. The usedtransport channel under MAC-hs are HS-DSCH, which corresponds in rel99shared channel concept DSCH transport channel.

FIG. 2: Radio Interface Protocol Architecture of HSDPA. The definedprotocol stack defines the HS-DSCH FP protocol to provide the HSDPA FPdata frames through lub-interface.

FIG. 3: UTRAN side MAC architecture/MAC-c/sh details.

FIG. 4: UTRAN side MAC architecture/MAC-hs details.

FIG. 5: In case SRNC sets CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—RL Setup Phase.

FIG. 6: In case Node B sets CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—RL Setup Phase.

FIG. 7 a: In case SRNC decides to change the values of CQI PO, ACK POand NACK PO—Using Control Plane protocol.

FIG. 7 b: In case SRNC decides to change the values of CQI PO, ACK POand NACK PO—Using User Plane protocol.

FIG. 8: In case SRNC decides to change the values of CQI PO, ACK PO andNACK PO—Using User Plane protocol—Frame structure.

FIG. 9: In case Node B sets CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO—RL Setup Phase.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Abbreviations

-   CRNC Control RNC (network element)-   DPCCH Dedicated Physical Control Channel-   DPCH Dedicated Physical Channel-   DPDCH Dedicated Physical Data Channel-   DSCH Downlink Shared Channel (transport channel)-   FDD Frequency Division Duplex (operation mode)-   FP Frame Protocol-   HARQ Hybrid Automatic Repeat Request (function)-   HO Hand Over-   HS-DSCH High Speed-Dedicated Shared Channel (transport channel)-   HS-PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel-   HS-SCCH Shared Control Channel for HS-DSCH-   HS-SICH Shared Info Channel for HS-DSCH-   HSDPA High Speed Downlink Packet Access (concept)-   MAC Medium Access Controller (protocol layer)-   MCS Modulation and Coding Scheme-   NBAP Node B Application Part-   PDSCH Physical Downlink Shared Channel-   PO Power Offset-   RL Radio Link-   RLC Radio Link Control (protocol layer)-   RNC Radio Resource Controller (network element)-   RNSAP Radio Network Subsystem Application Part-   UE User Equipment (user device)

The power of the HS-DPCCH is set as a power offset (PO). These POs canbe defined as POs of the DPCH. In detail, they can be defined as POrelative to DPCCH pilot field. In addition, to guarantee fullcell-coverage a CQI repetition scheme can be used whereby periodic CQI'sare sent in the uplink HS-DPCCH. Node B then sends user data on theHS-DSCH according to its own schedule to the users using time and/orcode multiplexing to better utilize the available resources alsoconsidering UE capability. The Node B prenotifies the UEs of thetransport format and resource combination (TFRC), the multi-code set, aswell as the HARQ process control on the HS-SCCH two slots in advance ofthe HS-DSCH. After receiving the user data on HS-DSCH, the UE sends aCQI and/or ACK/NACK on the uplink HS-DPCCH as a feedback signal after averification time of several slots. Considering the foregoing,especially the new HSDPA-RRM entities (HRQ, packet scheduling, linkadaptation) in the Node B, it will be advantageous for the Node B toknow the CQI power offset and the POs of ACK/NACK as givens determinedeither by itself or by the RNSAP/NBAP of the RNC.

As described in the FIG. 5 and 6, during the RL Setup phase, there are 2possibilities for accomplishing this end from the outset:

-   (1) SRNC decides CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO-   (2) Node B decides CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO

In the first case, since SRNC knows the SHO status of UE, based on theSHO situation it can decide the CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO. In this caseSRNC will assign these POs in the RL Setup Request message during RLsetup phase. SRNC will send the same values to UE using proper RRCmessage.

The signalling flow for this example is described in FIG. 5. In FIG. 5,a serving radio network controller (S-RNC) 500 provides an RL SETUPREQUEST message as a signal on a line 502 from a radio network subsystemapplication part (RNSAP) 504 to an RNSAP 506 of a drift radio networkcontroller (D-RNC) 508. The D-RNC 508 processes the RL SETUP REQUESTsignal received on the line 502 and provides said RL SETUP REQUESTsignal on a line 510 from a Node B application part (NBAP) 512 of theD-RNC 508 to an NBAP 514 of a Node B 516 under D-RNC 508. The RL SETUPREQUEST signal on the line 502 and on the line 510 may include one ormore power offset information elements including a CQI PO, an ACK PO anda NACK PO. In that case, the Node B 516 saves the POs for future use asindicated in a step 518. The step 518 should therefore be viewed as alsorepresentative of a memory within said Node B. The NBAP of Node B 516then sends an RL setup response message as a signal on a line 520 to theNBAP of the D-RNC 508. The D-RNC 508 then sends the RL setup responsesignal on a line 522 from its RNSAP to the RNSAP of the S-RNC 500. Aradio resource control (RRC) 524 of the S-RNC 500 then informs a UE 526with a proper RRC message signal on a line 528 which is received in thecorresponding RRC 530 of the UE 526. The RRC message includes the CQIPO, the ACK PO and the NACK PO for use by the UE in sending CQI's,NACK's and ACK's on the HS-DPCCH uplink to the Node B. Since the Node Bhas saved the POs for future use, and it therefore already knows thesePOs, it can use them in interpreting the CQI, ACK and NACK informationsent by the UE to the Node B without having to be in the dark, so tospeak. As can be seen by the illustration of FIG. 1(b) as compared tothat of FIG. 1(a), the process is made more efficient. It should berealized that a given S-RNC 500 may be in direct communication with anassociated Node B, and therefore the steps shown in FIG. 5 could becarried out without using the D-RNC 508 as an intermediary. For the sakeof completeness, however, FIG. 5 shows the possibility of using a D-RNCintermediate between the S-RNC and the Node B. Consequently, the RLsetup request signal on the line 502 can be sent directly to the Node B516 or via the D-RNC 508. Likewise, the signalling descriptions shown inFIGS. 6, 7A, 7B and 9 should also be understood in this way for signalsboth in the direction from the S-RNC toward the Node B and in thereverse direction.

In the second case, referring now to FIG. 6, since Node B knows HSDPArelated resource status and can be considered to have better knowledgeof HSDPA, it can decide the CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO. But in this caseNode B doesn't know whether it is in an HO situation or not. Thereforethe SRNC has to give the HO Indication. As described in FIG. 6, in an RLSetup Request message is sent by an S-RNC 600 by its RNSAP on a line 602to an RNSAP 604 of a D-RNC 606 and includes an HO Indication. An NBAP608 of the D-RNC 606 provides an RL SETUP REQUEST message as a signalwith the HO indication on a line 610 to an NBAP 612 of a Node B 614 ofthe D-RNC 606. The Node B 614 then decides the POs based on the HOindication and its own measurements and consequent decisions and savesthe POs for future use as indicated in a step 616. After that, the NBAPof the Node B 614 sends an RL setup response message as a signal withthe decided PO information elements on a line 618 to the NBAP of theD-RNC 606. The RNSAP of the D-RNC 606 then sends the RL setup responsemessage on a signal line 620 to the RNSAP of the S-RNC 600. An RRC 622of the S-RNC 600 then informs a UE 624 by means of a proper RRCprimitive message on a signal line 626 including the CQI, ACK and NACKPO information elements to an RRC 628 of the UE 624. The UE then usesthe PO information in setting the powers of the various CQI, ACK or NACKslots of its HS-DPCCH.

And if SRNC is the node to change the Power Offset values then it canuse the Synchronized RL Reconfiguration Procedure as described in FIG. 7a to change the POs, once established. One example of this case can bethe soft handover (SHO) situation. In an RL Reconfiguration Preparationmessage on a signal line 7 a 2, an RNSAP 7 a 4 of an SRNC 7 a 6 caninclude new CQI PO or/and ACK PO or/and NACK PO or/and and a Node B 7 a8 shall apply these new values. And if Node B can use the values it willreply with an RL Reconfiguration Ready primitive message on a line 7 a10 as a positive ACK. If Node B cannot use the values, then it willreply with RL Reconfiguration Failure message. In case of SRNCdetermination of Power Offsets, to change the POs, it is also possibleto use a user plane Frame Protocol (FP) as described in FIG. 7 b. Inthis case, in the FP, a proper control frame should be defined or used.For instance like in the DCH FP, it is desirable to define a RadioInterface Parameter Update control frame and deliver these POs in thiscontrol frame as shown for instance on a line 7 b 10 from an HS-DSCH FP7 b 12 of an S-RNC 7 b 14. An example of such a frame structure isdepicted in FIG. 8. The name of the control frame or the order of thefields can of course be different than that shown in FIG. 8. Theimportant point here is these Power Offsets can be delivered by a UPcontrol frame. In FIG. 8, the flag points to whether the correspondingPower Offsets are valid data or not. In the example, Flag bit 1indicates CQI PO, bit2 ACK PO and bit3 NACK PO. If the flag is 1 thenthe corresponding PO value is valid. Compared to using the controlplane, using the user plane is a rather lighter solution. But in thecase of using the user plane, the delivery cannot be guaranteed (Noresponse message). Therefore repeatedly sending the same control framemultiple times can be an option. This can make Node B receive the POswith higher probability.

If Node B is the node to change these POs and Node B is the node toinitiate a PO change procedure, a new message is needed to be definedfrom Node B to SRNC so that the new message can include new POs. Afterreceiving new POs, SRNC will forward these new POs to the UE. But ifNode B is the node to change these POs and SRNC is the node to initiatethe PO change procedure (e.g. SRNC changes the POs during SHO),Synchronized RL Reconfiguration Procedure can be used as describe inFIG. 9. SRNC 900 sends the RL Reconfiguration Prepare message from anRNSAP 902 on a line 904 to an RNSAP 906 of a D-RNC 908 with HOIndicator, and then an NBAP 910 of a Node B 912 receives the HOindication on a line 914 from an NBAP 916 of the D-RNC 908 and decides918 new POs and sends them back from the NBAP 910 to DRNC in an RLReconfiguration Ready message 920. After receiving same from the D-RNCRNSAP, the SRNC forward those POs to the UE on a line 930 using a properRRC message. And this whole procedure can be implemented in FP (FrameProtocol). I.e., SRNC can give the HO indication by control frame in FPand Node B will provide CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO in a control frame inFP. And also Node B can provide CQI PO, ACK PO and NACK PO with thiscontrol frame without SRNC's request.

When HSDPA is implemented CQI Power Offset, ACK Power Offset and NACKPower Offset signalling will be implemented as defined in thespecification. During HSDPA service, always UE and Node B shall havesame Power Offset (CQI, ACK and NACK) values. Therefore whenever HSDPAis implemented, this feature should be implemented.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to abest mode embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions andadditions in the form and detail thereof may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. Method, comprising: receiving by a base station of a radio access network a power offset information signal from a serving radio network controller, said signal having one or more information elements indicative of one or more corresponding power offsets including at least one of a channel quality indicator power offset, an acknowledge power offset, and a negative acknowledge power offset, saving said one or more power offsets in said base station, and sending from said base station a response signal to said serving radio network controller with information elements indicating receipt of said one or more power offsets from said serving radio network controller.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein said power offset information signal includes a handover indication instead of said information elements and wherein said method further comprises said base station determining said one or more information elements and then carrying out said step of saving said one or more power offsets in said base station and sending from said base station a response signal to said serving radio network controller indicating said one or more power offsets determined by said base station.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprising: sending from said serving radio network controller said power offset information signal to a drift radio network controller associated with said base station, and sending said power offset information signal from said drift radio network controller to said base station.
 4. The method of claim 2, further comprising sending a radio resource controller message signal from said serving radio network controller to a user equipment user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to or received from said base station.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein a radio resource controller message signal is sent from said serving radio network controller to user equipment including said at least one of a channel quality indicator power offset, an acknowledge power offset, and a negative acknowledge power offset.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a radio resource controller message signal from said serving radio network controller to a user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to said base station.
 7. The method of claim 11, wherein a radio resource control message signal is sent from said serving radio network controller to said user equipment including said at lest one of a channel quality indicator power offset, an acknowledge power offset, and a negative acknowledge power offset.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein said information elements include an information element indicative of power offset used in an uplink between a high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying hybrid automatic repeat request information and an associated dedicated physical control channel.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein said information is hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledge information.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said channel quality indicator power offset is for use in an uplink between a high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying channel quality information and an associated dedicated physical control channel.
 11. The method of claim 3, further comprising: receiving a message signal according to a control plane protocol from said serving radio network controller at said base station directly or via said drift radio network controller with changes to said one or more information elements, changing one or more corresponding power offsets at said base station, and sending a reply signal according to said control plane protocol from said base station to said serving radio network controller directly or via said drift radio network controller.
 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: sending from said serving radio network controller said message signal to said base station directly or via said drift radio network controller, and sending a radio resource control message signal from said serving radio network controller to a user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to said base station.
 13. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of: receiving a radio interface parameter update signal according to a user plane protocol directly from said serving radio network controller at said base station or via said drift radio resource control with changes to said one or more information elements, and changing one or more corresponding power offsets at said base station.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of: sending from said serving radio network controller said radio interface parameter update signal directly to said base station or via said drift radio network controller, and sending a radio resource control message signal from said serving radio network controller to a user equipment indicative of said update signal sent to said base station.
 15. Apparatus, comprising: an application part of a base station of a radio access network, responsive to a power offset information signal received from a radio network controller, said power offset information signal having one or more information elements indicative of one or more corresponding power offsets including at least one of a channel quality indicator power offset, an acknowledge power offset and a negative acknowledge power offset; and a memory in said base station for storing said one or more power offsets, said application part for sending from said base station response signal to said radio network controller for indicating receipt of said one or more power offsets from said radio network controller.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said power offset information signal includes a handover indication instead of said information elements and wherein said apparatus is configured to determine said one or more power offsets and to store said one or more power offsets in said memory and to send a response signal to said radio network controller indicating said one or more power offsets determined by said apparatus.
 17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said radio network controller is for sending a radio resource controller message signal to a user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to or received from said apparatus.
 18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said information elements include an information element indicative of power offset used in an uplink between a high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying hybrid automatic repeat request information and an associated dedicated physical control channel.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said hybrid automatic repeat request information is hybrid automatic repeat request acknowledge information.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein said information elements include an information element having a channel quality indicator indicative of power offset used in an uplink between high speed dedicated physical control channel slot carrying channel quality information and said associated dedicated physical control channel.
 21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: said apparatus is responsive to a message signal according to a control plane protocol from said radio network controller directly or indirectly via another radio network controller with changes to said one or more information elements, for changing one or more corresponding power offsets at said apparatus, and for sending a reply message signal according to said control plane protocol from said apparatus to said radio network controller directly or via said other radio network controller.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said radio network controller is also for sending radio resource control message signal to a user equipment indicative of said one or more information elements sent to said apparatus.
 23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein a radio interface parameter update signal according to a user plane protocol is received from said radio network controller at said apparatus directly or via said other radio network controller with changes to said one or more information elements, and, in response thereto, said apparatus changes one or more corresponding power offsets.
 24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein said serving radio network controller sends said radio interface parameter update signal to said apparatus directly or via said other radio network controller, and also sends a radio resource control message signal to a user equipment indicative of said update signal sent to said apparatus.
 25. A computer program product for at least temporary storage in a computer readable medium for executing the steps of claim
 1. 